Landing in Montréal | Immigration and getting settled in Quebec

Before you leave

Make sure you have all your documents printed out

Before leaving your country, make sure you print out all of the following documents and have them with you when you go through Canadian customs:

Valid passport (with visa sticker, if you need a visa to enter Canada);
HEC Montréal admission letter (available in HEC en ligne);
Proof of Enrolment letter (available in HEC en ligne);
Attestation of issuance of Certificat d'acceptation du Québec (CAQ);
Proof that you have the financial capacity to cover your basic needs and your tuition fees.
Letter of introduction confirming initial approval of the study permit. You must not travel without this letter. If you wish to defer your admission, fill out our form or write to us;
Any other relevant documents (e.g., contact information of your relatives in Canada, proof of payment of tuition fees, etc.).

Be sure to bring a charged phone that you can connect to the airport's Wi-Fi.

After you get off the plane

Proceed to collect your study permit

You will only be able to collect your study permit upon arrival at Canadian customs.

Go to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office in the airport, to collect your study permit.
Check all the information on your study permit (e.g., your personal information). If you find an error, you can have it corrected immediately at customs. The name HEC Montréal and your level of studies must appear on the study permit.

Get to Montréal

Your first days in Montréal

Validate your admission

Get informed before school starts

Register for the Quebec Health Insurance (RAMQ)

Please note! This applies only to students who are citizens or residents of one of the signatory countries that have an agreement with Quebec.

Register online on the RAMQ website. You will need, among other things, your Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and your study permit and a full-time study attestation (available in HEC en ligne).
Upload to HEC en ligne the Official proof from the RAMQ, before the deadline for tuition fee payments.

Need help registering? Check out the RAMQ's 5 tips.

Open an account in a canadian bank

We strongly advise you to open a Canadian bank account for your financial transactions. Not only is it safe, it will also save money on bank fees.

In order to manage all your initial purchases in Montréal, it would be advisable to carry some cash (CAD, USD, or Euros), travellers’ cheques or a credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

If you have an ATM card from a foreign bank, remember that your bank will charge you fees for each transaction.

Opening an account

Before selecting a financial institution, compare student rates.

The National Bank and Desjardins offer attractive packages to HEC Montréal international students. Since using an ATM from a bank other than your own can be expensive, please note that ATMs from both of these institutions are located on campus.

To open an account, you will need to provide the following documents:

Passport;
Study permit;
Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ);
School admission letter;
Proof of address: lease, an invoice or attestation to prove that you are registered as a full-time student.

Don’t have an address to provide? You can make the School your temporary address: 3000 Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC, H3T 2A7. Don't forget to update your address in HEC en ligne and contact your bank as soon as you know your permanent address.

Transactions

You can make deposits at ATMs (cheques and cash).
You can pay bills through online banking.
Cheques are rarely used, except for paying rent.
Receiving international wire transfers is subject to fees.
Be aware that a deposited cheque can be held for between 5 and 30 days.
Do not confuse a debit card with a credit card. A debit, or ATM card allows you to make deposits, withdrawals and purchases (through the Interac system). A Canadian Visa or MasterCard credit card lends you funds for purchases, often with very high interest rates.

Budget

Need advice on how to budget? See the Sample budget page or contact a member of the Financial Aid office at sae.afe [at] hec.ca (sae[dot]afe[at]hec[dot]ca).

Send funds to Canada

You might want to send funds to Canada in order to cover some of the fees and other expenses you may need to pay during your stay in Montréal.

Exchange rate fluctuations can negatively affect your monthly budget. To keep on top of the current rates, visit the Bank of Canada’s exchange rates and currency converter page.

Canada does not have exchange controls but be aware that such controls may exist in your country.

Transferring funds

You can transfer funds into a Canadian bank account. You can also have money sent to a Canadian bank before you leave your country, to have it deposited in your Canadian account once it is opened.

Bank drafts (certified cheques)

You can use bank drafts in your name, which can be cashed at a Canadian bank. Some banks wait up to 30 working days before granting access to your funds.

Landing in Montréal: what to do first